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Magazine, Past Issue
Nov/Dec 2025 issue
WHAT'S INSIDE: You can't fight screens with nothing
Given how popular our summer screen-fast challenge was, it’s evident that our tech usage is an issue that deserves ongoing attention in Christian homes. It was great so many of us could take a break from our phones, but if we’re going to limit our screen-time for the long-term, we need to think of what we’re going to do instead. So, what alternatives do kids (and adults) have to screens?
1. Get outside
One option: in this issue, school teacher Dave Penninga shares stories from his own childhood to speak to the impor- tance of risky play. He’s also working from Jonathan Haidt’s recent book The Anxious Generation - How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Penninga makes the case for parents to back off some, and allow more unsupervised outdoor play.
2. Stack bricks – our “Building Block” contest is back!
Lego is another great alternative to screens. Earlier this year, more than 500 youth pulled out their bins of Lego and entered our first-ever “building block” contest. It’s back and in time for Christmas break. Be sure to point your little, and not-so-little, ones to the back cover for details.
3. Write or record – we need you to share your training, experiences, wisdom, or story
In light of what we confess in Lord’s Day 12 of the Heidelberg Catechism, that every Christian shares in Christ’s anointing as a prophet, priest, and king, we are grateful to launch a new contest where you have an opportunity to share your own message in writing, audio, or video. Perhaps you have training and education that would be a huge help to others, or you have experienced a trial and have learned lessons that you could share to the benefit of many. Maybe you have a story to encourage or warn your siblings in Christ. This is your opportunity to inspire and bless Christ’s Church!
Not only could your work be published, thanks to the generosity of a donor, there is a whopping $7,000 in cash prizes! Find the details on pages 2-3.
Keep the printing presses rolling
As the year draws to a close, we respectfully remind our readers that Reformed Perspective is only able to publish this magazine (and produce many other resources) and give it away for free because of the generosity of people like you, who recognize the importance of thinking, speaking, and acting for God’s glory. As you can read on pages 82-83, our donors allowed us to take 4 big steps forward this year. Are you willing to help keep the presses rolling through 2026?
We have three options for you to read the magazine. First up is the flipbook edition, with its turning pages. Below that, you can click the cover to view the pdf in your browser, or click here to download the PDF (13 mb)
INDEX: RP Contest: Your Turn / What will Canada look like in 2040 / Vera's story: the fight for her life... / Why Charlie Kirk's death hit so hard / The importance of risky play / Introducing the ARPA Academy / Why you (or someone you know) should plan to go to Calgary's 2026 Summit Reformed Young Adult Conference / Why I don't have a bucket list / Christine Farenhorst's annual Christmas story: Learning / Interview with an artist: Paul Roth loves painting her studio / Come & Explore: Have you ever wondered... / Why it's good for teens and kids to do chores / In a Nutshell / Post Tenebras Lux: Martin Luther and the road to Reformation / More than the magazine / E.D. Update: our donors enabled us to take 4 big steps forward in 2025 / RP contest: can you build it better?
Internet, News
Australia and Denmark restrict social media use by children
In at least two western countries, children under the age of 16 will soon be barred from using many social media sites and apps. The Australian government passed the “Online Safety Amendment Act,” back in 2024 to raise the age requirement for many popular social media sites from 13 to 16 – that change is scheduled to take effect December 10 of this year. The Australian ban includes nine of the popular, time-wasting and culturally-influential apps: Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Reddit, and Kick. The government can fine companies up to $50 million (Australian) that don’t take “reasonable steps” to remove current accounts and prohibit new ones for children under 16. That’s a hefty penalty, even for these extremely profitable companies.
In Denmark, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced similar restrictions in her opening speech to parliament in October of this year. Caroline Stage, Denmark’s Minister for Digital Affairs, said that 94% of Danish children under the age of 13 have profiles on at least one social medial platform. The legislation still has a few hurdles to cross before becoming law, but indicates a clear turning away from unregulated use of social media by children.
The Bible tells us that the primary responsibility for raising children is given to their parents, not to kings or princes or governments. No doubt then, that Christian parents are already seeking to guide and guard their children’s access to internet resources that can be damaging to young hearts and minds. But just like the government bans on liquor, tobacco, and pornography access for children, it does seem appropriate for the State to restrict social media use by youngsters, since, along with the very little good, there can be very much harm that comes from exposure too early to matters inappropriate for children.
Today's Devotional
November 12 - Are you faithful leaders, Fathers?
“Hear my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.” - Proverbs 1:8
Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-25
Yesterday, the topic was nations; today, it is on the building block of nations: the family. Look at the focus of Deuteronomy 6 where it is commanded that the family spends its time and energy teaching the children of the household to know the LORD. >
Today's Manna Podcast
The spiritual act of forgiving # 1
Serving #1024 of Manna, prepared by Ian Wildeboer, is called "The spiritual act of forgiving # 1".
